I'm in shock, I truly am. 11 reviews!! That has never, ever happened to me before. So thank you so much you guys, I love you all! I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation frowned as he peered out of the window of the carriage that was taking him to the royal palace. It wasn't right he thought as he looked at the hard, fierce faces of the people that they passed. It wasn't right at all. The war was over. People should be happy.
But they weren't. Zuko sighed as he looked out at them. One old man turned to face the carriage and when he saw Zuko's face at the window his own hardened and, with all the contempt of an old man, he spat at the carriage. The Prince clenched his teeth but he sat back in the carriage and looked away from the window.
It had been right to leave his father, to join the Avatar and to stop the war. He had done what was right. But many people in his own nation despised him for it. He was the renegade Prince, the traitor, the turncoat. He had brought shame to the Fire Nation.
And the end of the war had indeed been shameful for the people. The Fire Lord and the Princess dead, the rebel Prince and his traitor Uncle installed in the Palace. This had suited the other nations, to whom the two were heroes, but in their own land…it was different. The people hated the peace, because it was an acceptance of defeat, of the fact that they had lost. Now the other nations were telling them what to do and it wasn't all pleasant.
The size of the army had been drastically reduced, the production of war machines stopped, political prisoners released. Many, many people were out of job and the reparations the nation had been forced to pay had not helped. In addition there was no more income from the harsh taxes set on conquered territories.
And the other nations still didn't trust them. A hundred years of war were not easily forgotten by any side. The people of the other nations had suffered, worst of all the Air Nomads, and they did not forgive easily. Even if the top, the King and his Cabinet, knew they would benefit from relations with the Fire Nation, in this they bowed to the will of their people.
Zuko got out of the carriage and walked the few steps into the palace. He was early for the meeting and waiting was not one of his strong suits, it had never been. More than once his rash actions had caused problems, for him and for others.
Instinctively his hand went up to his face to touch the scar around his left eye. But he wasn't bitter anymore. The scar was part of who he was, and if he hadn't received it he wouldn't be who he was to be. He wouldn't have discovered what was right, even if his people didn't see it that way yet. But they would, one day.
He thought fondly of them, the memories of those months travelling with the Avatar, with the 'Gaang'. They were happy memories, memories of freedom, and memories of friendship. Memories of pain. He sobered. The end of the war had brought many deaths and the one that hurt most was that of Mai. He still missed her, not as clearly and sharply as he had at first, but it was still there. He didn't think he would ever find someone like her again. She had been unique.
He had reached the room where the next meeting would be held. Strictly speaking it wasn't necessary for him to be present as Fire Lord Iroh was taking care of the nation until it was time for Zuko, but he preferred to be there, preferred work to idleness.
Most of the other representatives of the Fire Nation were already present; no one spoke to Zuko as he took his place to the right of the Fire Lord's seat. It wasn't that they were being rude but he and the others had nothing to say to each other.
Zuko disliked the Cabinet, one reason being that many of the men here had served under his father as well and while the strongest supporters had been imprisoned it wasn't possible to imprison everyone because most people had been somehow involved.
In the eyes of the cabinet he was not to be relyed on. He had left his nation once, betrayed it to join the Avatar and, though most now accepted that it had been for the greater good, there was still doubt about him. The same doubt that was reflected in the people and more. Could he be trusted? Was he truly prepared to give everything for his nation as a Prince should?
Finally Fire Lord Iroh arrived and seated himself in his chair at the head of the table. Tea was passed around as it was Iroh's custom and he smiled kindly at Zuko before opening the meeting.
"There has been a message from the Earth Kingdom," one man began. Iroh frowned slightly. Relations with the Earth Kingdom had been…strained to say the least. Not that one could blame them. The Earth Kingdom had suffered much under the war, many of their greatest cities had been destroyed, their people hunted down, suppressed and imprisoned.
"They have a, how shall I put it…an interesting offer," the man continued, "they too wish for better relations but there is much protest from the people. So they suggest some sort of symbol of unity and renewal, something to signify the coming of a new era. A marriage is their proposal."
A murmur ran around the room. This was truly an interesting offer. The Earth Kingdom was prepared to better the standing of the Fire Nation in the eyes of their population. A chance that had to be seized.
"It is a good proposal," Iroh said carefully, "But is a marriage the right thing?"
"Why not?" another member argued, "A marriage is symbol of unity, the start of a new chapter, of love. It is something that both sides benefit from."
The Fire Lord nodded slowly, "And do we supply groom or bride?"
"They are prepared for us to offer the groom," the man that had brought the messge, the Minister of Foreign Relations, a tall man with a thick, graying beard, "Which is a great and surprising honor. Is there anyone that springs to mind?"
"I would gladly offer my son," One man said eagerly.
"Your son was in the army," Zuko spoke out for the first time, reminding people of his presence, "I don't think the people will take kindly to one of the people that ransacked their lands to be married as a symbol of unity."
The men turned to him, thoughtful. He was right of course, but most young men in the Fire Nation were or had been part of the army. They were quiet for a while. Then one spoke, hesitantly.
"What about you, Prince Zuko?"
"Me?" Zuko frowned, genuinely surprised.
"You are young," the man said, another Minister of some kind, "You are, forgive me, good-looking. You stopped the war, you are a hero. And it would show our goodwill to offer someone of the royal family for this marriage."
"But what if," one man threw in, "what if the children were Earthbenders? Our nation cannot be led by Earthbenders."
"I believe that is a chance we will have to take," the Minister responded, sitting up tall, "In that case I'm sure no one would object if the Prince adopted an heir. It would be our chance to restore ourselves in the eyes of the Nations. It is our chance to show that we can do things better."
Now all faces turned eagerly to Zuko. It seemed that this proposal had found the approval of most members of the cabinet. Only his Uncle was still looking apprehensive, his face telling Zuko to think carefully before answering.
And Zuko did think carefully. Could he do it? Could he take some unknown girl from the Earth Kingdom as his wife? He thought of Earth Kingdom girls he had known, of Jin and of Toph. That didn't seem too bad.
Would he do it? Mai's face flashed through his thoughts. But Mai was dead, and what was the chance that he would have something like that again? This was a chance, not only for his nation, but also for him. Relations with the Earth Kingdom would mean better trade and more income for the people. Their situation would better and maybe their bitterness appeased, at least in part. And he could prove himself. He could prove that, truly he was prepared to do anything to help his nation. Even if the people didn't see it that way at first, the Cabinet would and if they accepted him, maybe the people would as well.
The Earth Kingdom was offering his nation a chance, a chance to better themselves in the eyes of the rest of the world as well. It was a chance that had to be taken.
He nodded, "Alright. I'll do it."
It was much harder to come up with a plausible reason why Zuko would agree to the marriage than it was for Toph and I hope I did okay, and I hope I did Zuko justice. So review and let me know!